16-11-2015, 02:06 AM
Thanks for the posts guys! Always good to know that some of you are following things in Iceland and elsewhere 
Today was, unfortunately, the same old story. Another strong team (averaging about 2600) and another match which we should have taken something from.
Steve had a tough one today against the mighty Shirov. In an opening variation which isn't supposed to offer white anything at all, Shirov somehow managed to conjure up an initiative on the k-side which Steve couldn't hold on against.
Andy M had a tricky material imbalance in a main-line Catalan as Black - but it proved too difficult to find safe squares for his 2 pieces versus a rook and passed pawn.
My own game followed my 'orders for the day'. Steady as she goes and try to put something on the board! And I really should have. Taking the safe option at every turn, I finally had a rush of blood to the head and went for a variation I thought was drawing 50.Rb7, and when I realised it wasn't I managed to overlook a blunder 54..c3?? which would have allowed 55.Rb8 with a forced draw (55...g5 56.Rh8+ Kg6 57.Rhh7!)
It was therefore left to Alan to salvage something from the match, and he was much, much better out of the opening, but a bit of indecision let his opponent back into the game. Even at the end though he had a very solid, drawish position - but he saw a ghost somewhere when short of time, sacked a crucial pawn and soon had to turn over his king.
So, 3 matches, 3 losses and not a single half-point on the scoreboard. Hmmm, not good. Tomorrow sees us take on the Faroe Islands and hopefully we can put in a result there. We all know we are playing pretty decent chess, and although a bit embarrassed at our lack of points we are still positive!
I had a wee chat with Simon 'GingerGM' Williams who is providing the live commentary (along with Fiona Steil-Antoni, a popular lass in Scottish circles) and he has promised to give us a shout-out during tomorrow's broadcast to see if it will help our cause!
Elsewhere Aronian beat Carlsen some 10 yards from our match (there was a big crowd around that board and a lot of happy Armenians afterwards as they won the match as well).
Today was, unfortunately, the same old story. Another strong team (averaging about 2600) and another match which we should have taken something from.
Steve had a tough one today against the mighty Shirov. In an opening variation which isn't supposed to offer white anything at all, Shirov somehow managed to conjure up an initiative on the k-side which Steve couldn't hold on against.
Andy M had a tricky material imbalance in a main-line Catalan as Black - but it proved too difficult to find safe squares for his 2 pieces versus a rook and passed pawn.
My own game followed my 'orders for the day'. Steady as she goes and try to put something on the board! And I really should have. Taking the safe option at every turn, I finally had a rush of blood to the head and went for a variation I thought was drawing 50.Rb7, and when I realised it wasn't I managed to overlook a blunder 54..c3?? which would have allowed 55.Rb8 with a forced draw (55...g5 56.Rh8+ Kg6 57.Rhh7!)
It was therefore left to Alan to salvage something from the match, and he was much, much better out of the opening, but a bit of indecision let his opponent back into the game. Even at the end though he had a very solid, drawish position - but he saw a ghost somewhere when short of time, sacked a crucial pawn and soon had to turn over his king.
So, 3 matches, 3 losses and not a single half-point on the scoreboard. Hmmm, not good. Tomorrow sees us take on the Faroe Islands and hopefully we can put in a result there. We all know we are playing pretty decent chess, and although a bit embarrassed at our lack of points we are still positive!
I had a wee chat with Simon 'GingerGM' Williams who is providing the live commentary (along with Fiona Steil-Antoni, a popular lass in Scottish circles) and he has promised to give us a shout-out during tomorrow's broadcast to see if it will help our cause!
Elsewhere Aronian beat Carlsen some 10 yards from our match (there was a big crowd around that board and a lot of happy Armenians afterwards as they won the match as well).